SYDNEY and West Coast gave us two enthralling grand final contests. Their games were close, tight affairs. Geelong gave us a 119-point blowout over a hapless Port Adelaide and yet this was an enthralling spectacle as well.
Why? Because we saw the most superior team of the season go to work and strut its stuff on the day that counted. And it is always good to watch a champion in action.
The Cats were simply awesome. Every line — back, midfield and forward — was the best in the competition. This was a team that boasted eight of its nine All-Australian representatives, something we have never seen before, and on the big stage they played accordingly.
Memories of this record-breaking day will be many. Matthew Scarlett dominated his position. He played on a boy, Justin Westhoff, and gave him the lesson of his football life.
It's unheard of for full-backs to accumulate 25-plus possessions, but Scarlett does it on a regular basis. Time and again, he backs himself to leave his opponent to be extra support for teammates.
Fourteen times he received handballs as he charged forward. Rarely was a kick wasted as he searched the corridor for a target.
Steve Johnson was my tip for Norm Smith medallist and he didn't let me down. When you're hot, you're hot and Johnson has been on fire this season. His brain has always been a step ahead of the rest and now he has a body that is fit enough to fulfil the brain's ambitions.
Paul Chapman took the mark of the match. He set himself, timed his run and leap and hung for a fraction of a second on a Power back before his fingers claimed the leather. It reminded me of Merv Hobbs' mark in the preliminary final 46 years ago. Little men who take "hangers" just aren't forgotten.
And what about the chase and tackle of Brad Ottens on Michael Pettigrew. The Port half-back is encouraged to run and bounce. When he saw Ottens in pursuit, his eyes lit up. For years, big Brad has been a lumberer, but not now. He is super fit and super committed.
When he brought Pettigrew down after a 60-metre chase, the game was as good as over. It was a symbolic act that confirmed 2007 was the year of the Cat.
Mathew Stokes was inspirational, too. When his knee buckled early, his day looked over. But he returned to the field with a vengeance.
He would not be denied and in the second quarter he selflessly threw his body into the most dangerous of situations to win contest after contest. If the coach didn't highlight his efforts at half-time, I would be surprised.
The captain I like.There's no bullshit about Tom Harley. He's honest, realistic and positive. When he led his team onto the field, there was resolve written all over his face. He knows he is not the best player, but you couldn't have a better leader.
When Harley speaks, you listen. If I were a young Geelong player, I would be desperate to earn his respect.
The selection of Steven King over Mark Blake was a courageous and correct decision and it was fantastic to see the veteran play with aplomb. The idea was that he could give some reasonable opposition to Port pair Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan. That he would beat both was not in the script, but that's what he did and more power to him.
That most humble of Brownlow medallists, Jimmy Bartel, now has another medal to add to his collection. Watching him play and appear in public, you know which one will mean the most to him.
There's no fuss and fanfare about Jimmy. He's just a good old-fashioned footballer who excels at the modern game. He'll die for his teammates, as he reaffirms weekly when backing back into packs. He did it again on Saturday.
And finally there's a teenager called Joel Selwood, who has won universal respect in the football world in only 12 months. He's a beauty. Tough, smart, modest and unselfish. He'll captain the Cats one day.
It's always good to watch a champion at work. You'll never tire of watching Roger Federer and Tiger Woods dominate their opponents. Geelong is the same.
